A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  5w, 6m plus ensemble

From the novel by Thomas Hardy
A musical by Alex Loveless

Additional musical arrangement and original orchestrations by Christopher Ash
Orchestrations adapted by Andy Smith

Set against the beautiful background of 19th-century Wessex, Thomas Hardy’s masterpiece is brought thrillingly to the stage in a new full-length musical adaptation full of drama, colour and passion.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w, 6m plus ensemble
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature), Period
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14-18)

Details

Summary

Tess of the D’Urbervilles is the story of a farm girl and what happens after she discovers the truth about her family’s illustrious heritage. Tess is seduced by the wealthy Alec D’Urberville and bears him a son who dies in infancy. She later marries Angel Clare, a gentleman farmer, but he learns of her past with Alec and abandons her. To support her family, Tess agrees to become Alec’s mistress. When Angel returns, Tess murders Alec in a fit of passion. The police track Tess and Angel to Stonehenge. As Tess is led to the gallows, she imagines what life could have been had she never discovered her ancestry.

Tess of the D’Urbervilles is scored in a “through-composed” style. The score incorporates a range of musical styles, from folk and church music to operetta. Containing timeless themes – including the sacrificial nature of true faith and virtue versus moral absolutism, religious dogma and fanaticism; the place of women in society; and an examination of the true nature of nobility – Tess has lost none of its power or relevance since its first publication.

History
Tess of the D’Urbervilles premiered at the New Wimbledon Studio Theatre, London on 2 September 2014, produced by Stepping Out Theatre in association with Partisan and Fallen Angel Theatre Company. Directed by Chris Loveless, the production featured Jessica Daley, Nick Hayes and Martin Neely.

TESS DURBEYFIELD
Age 16–23. An unsophisticated and poor country girl with only a basic education, Tess is nevertheless a free spirit and independent thinker. Tess has a two-octave range (G3-G5) and needs to sing through this on a regular basis. Tess is a mezzo-soprano role and needs to be convincing and comfortable in “head” voice (above the “break”). On the one hand, her range can be quite high and operatic, and on the other, she also needs to be able to sound “folky” and “authentic.”

ANGEL CLARE
Age 22–29. Idealist and iconoclast who does not conform to the rigid puritanical religious tenets espoused by his parson father. Eschewing a university education like that of his brothers, Angel pursues a career in farming, meeting Tess at Talbothays Dairy, where the two fall in love and wed. Angel is a tenor/high baritone, singing up to A4 (optional) or A flat 4.

ALEC D’URBERVILLE
Age 24–31. Wealthy and worldly, domineering and debauched, Alec seduces and rapes Tess after she comes to his family home to claim kin, unaware that Alec and his ancestors are of common stock and have merely assumed a distinguished name to enhance their status. Alec is a low tenor/baritone, singing up to F sharp 4.

ENSEMBLE
The ensemble cover SATB harmonies in choral work. In practice, “sopranos” can be mezzos with a good reach and “basses” can be sung by baritones. There is potential to use the actors playing Alec & Angel during extended periods of downtime to (subtly) enhance the ensemble.

The allocation of roles below allows the piece to be performed by eleven actors:

ACTOR 1: JOHN DURBEYFIELD, DAIRYMAN CRICK, PARSON CLARE & ENSEMBLE
Age: 40s/50s. John Durbeyfield is a middle-aged haggler who travels from place to place selling his goods, providing a meagre subsistence for his family. In ill health and often “under the influence,” his and his wife’s shiftlessness and negligence have not provided the most secure of upbringings for his daughter Tess. Parson Clare is a puritanical Christian, rigid in his tenets, but compassionate and empathetic nonetheless. Dairyman Crick is middle-aged, humorous and worldly, though somewhat rustic and old-fashioned.

ACTOR 2: PARSON TRINGHAM, BAILIFF, LANDLORD & ENSEMBLE
Age: 20s/30s + (flexible). Parson Tringham is an antiquary, sententious and self-important. His revelation to John Durbeyfield of the latter’s illustrious lineage is the catalyst for the story’s tragedy. The Bailiff is a steward of Alec’s family home. Lecherous in drink towards Tess, his pass at her causes a fight from which Alec extracts Tess and leads her to her downfall. The Landlord is a steadfast figure, evicting Tess’s family from their long-standing home because of Tess’s status as a “fallen woman.” He represents society’s orthodoxy and unfeelingness towards those unfortunate enough to transgress its mores.

ACTOR 3: CUTHBERT, MAN (KINGSBERE), POLICEMAN & ENSEMBLE
Age: 20s. Cuthbert is one of Angel’s brothers, a Reverend at Cambridge University – Fellow and Dean of his College. A classical scholar, he follows in his father’s footsteps with regard to faith. The Man greets Joan, Tess and Lisa-Lu at Kingsbere following their eviction and tells them that no rooms are available to let in the town of their ancestors. The Policeman arrests Tess at Stonehenge and takes her to her prison awaiting trial and execution for the murder of Alec.

ACTOR 4: FELIX, JONATHAN & ENSEMBLE
Age: 20s. Felix is one of Angel’s brothers, quieter and more self- contained than Cuthbert, but equally studious and obedient.

ACTOR 5: JOAN DURBEYFIELD, MRS D’URBERVILLE, MRS CLARE & ENSEMBLE
Age: 40s/50s. Joan is a middle-aged woman, as shiftless as her husband, with the habitual mentality of a happy child. Mrs D’Urberville is the elderly, blind head of the sham D’Urberville family. Mrs Clare is wife to Parson Clare and mother to Angel, puritanical and somewhat lofty in thought and manner.

ACTOR 6: RETTY, LISA-LU & ENSEMBLE
Age: teens/early 20s. Retty is a servant at Talbothays Dairy. Innocent, sweet-natured, and more timid than her fellow milkmaids.

ACTOR 7: MARIAN, LANDLADY & ENSEMBLE
Age: 20s/30s. Marian is a servant at Talbothays Dairy. In love with Angel, she is more of a pragmatist than her fellow milkmaids. The Landlady runs the boarding-house in which Alec and Tess reside.

ACTOR 8: IZZ & ENSEMBLE
Age: 20s. Izz is a servant at Talbothays Dairy. In love with Angel, her sparky, positive temperament enables her to better cope than her fellow maids the “loss” of Angel to Tess.

Costume is mainly reflective of the rural working class. Parson Tringham, Parson Clare and Alec all require parson’s robes. At least one period policeman’s uniform is required. The Clares are an austere middle-class family, excepting Angel who dresses as a gentleman farmer. Alec dresses as a fashionable country gentleman. Mrs D’Urberville dresses as an upper class gentlewoman, whereas Tess transitions into finery by the end of the piece. A wedding veil is also required.

The above casting represents the minimum number of players with which the piece can be performed. This relies on ensemble members playing multiple roles. There is much potential to expand this piece for larger cast sizes by allocating these roles separately, with many scenes and songs containing an ensemble element.

  • Time Period Victorian (British and American), 19th Century
  • Setting In and around rural Wessex in the late 19th century.
  • Features Elaborate/High-Volume Costumes, Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Stage Combat
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Musically stunning [with] haunting songs… a beautiful musical.” – British Theatre Guide

“The Loveless brothers… have brought great sincerity to their storytelling… surging power ballads… very well delivered… a compelling centre to the show.” – The Stage

“Superbly conceived and realised… there is so much to admire in this production… the fusion of the Victorian novel and musical theatre is remarkable.” – Broadway World

“Boasting a charming score… a welcome addition to the roster of new British book musicals.” – Musical Theatre Review

“Astonishingly good… stunning… thoroughly enjoyable.” – Plays to See

“A dramatic triumph… an absolute joy to watch… If you are looking for depth, fantastic acting, great movement, sublime singing and music then this is the show for you.” – London Theatre

“Sheer enchantment from start to finish.” – Remotegoat

“The best new musical to hit the Off-West End stage in years… Awarding Tess of the D’Urbervilles five stars seems stingy… I haven’t been this bewitched by any musical since I first watched Boublil and Schönberg’s Les Misérables. This is a musical that tugs the heartstrings and won’t let go. It’s divine work.” – Mellowday London

“Atmospheric and melodic… a bold and well-told story.” – Stage Review

“Thoroughly engaging… this is something incredibly special.” – Ginger Hibiscus

“A wonderful musical evening.” – The Londonist

“A rich, dramatic and inventive score… really great new British musical writing.” – Grumpy Gay Critic

Music

Song Samples

Tess Audio Reel
Children of the Earth
I Saw Your Face
Gentleman
I Hear Your Voice
I Could Never Love You
Dog Days
Until My Heart Is Free
Dairy Song
I Deal in Ideals
Will You Marry Me
Pretty Tipple
A True Christian Woman
The Belly of the Beast
The Folly of My Youth
Carry Me Home
Brazil
Stony Ground
Sorrow
Scene: The D’Urberville Vaults
Make Your Decision
Once, I Was Yours
You Lied To Me
Now Isn’t Over
Finale

Act I

“Prologue” – John & Parson Tringham
“Children of the Earth” – Angel, Felix, Cuthbert & Female Ensemble
“I Saw Your Face” – Tess
“Gentleman” – Ensemble
“Forbidden Fruit” – Alec & Tess
“Saturday Night” – Ensemble
“I Hear Your Voice” – Tess & Alec
“I Could Never Love You” – Tess & Alec
“Children of the Earth (Reprise) / Dog Days” – Ensemble
“Until My Heart Is Free” – Tess
“Dairy Song” – Ensemble
“I Deal in Ideals” – Angel & Tess
“Pretty Tipple” – Cuthbert, Angel, Mrs Clare & Parson Clare
“A Truly Christian Woman” – Parson Clare, Angel & Mrs Clare
“The Proposal” – Angel & Tess
“The Belly of the Beast” – Ensemble
“Do You Believe in Love” – Angel & Tess
“Wedding Chorale” – Ensemble
“The Folly of My Youth” – Angel & Tess

Act II

“Entr’acte” – Instrumental
“Carry Me Home” – Izz, Marian & Retty
“Brazil” – Mrs Clare, Angel & Parson Clare
“Stony Ground” – Marian & Ensemble
“Joyfully, We Praise” – Ensemble
“Sorrow” – Tess & Alec
“The Belly of the Beast (Reprise)” – Ensemble
“Until My Heart Is Free (Reprise)” – Tess & Joan
“Forbidden Fruit (Reprise)” – Alec & Tess
“Make Your Decision” – Alec, Tess & Ensemble
“Once, I Was Yours” – Tess & Angel
“You Lied to Me” – Tess & Alec
“Now Isn’t Over” – Tess & Angel
“Finale” – John, Parson Tringham, Tess, Angel & Ensemble

  • Musical Style Folk, Operetta
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Chorus Size Medium

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
1 Full Score
13 Keyboard-MD-Vocal Scores
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
Guitar
Percussion
Viola
Violin
Bass

Please note the sample tracks below are unedited live audio files recorded during performance.

13 Keyboard-MD-Vocal Scores

Add-Ons

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Authors

Alex Loveless

Alex trained in musical composition at the London College of Music and is the composer / lyricist / librettist of Tess of the D’Urbervilles (New Wimbledon Studio Theatre, 2014), Bel-Ami (Watermans Theatre / Charing Cross Theatre, 2014), The Remains Of The Day (Union Theatre, ...
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Author

Thomas Hardy

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